Manipulative parents leave kids in distress later

Washington, Oct 26 : Teenagers whose parents exert more psychological control over them have more problems establishing friendships and romantic relationships later, found a study.

The researchers looked at whether parents' greater use of psychological control in early adolescence can hinder teenagers' development of autonomy in relationships with peers.

Parents' psychological control involved tactics like using guilt, withdrawing love, fostering anxiety, or other tactics aimed at controlling youths' motivations and behaviour, pointed out the researchers at the University of Virginia in the US.

"These tactics might pressure teens to make decisions in line with their parents' needs and motivations rather than their own," said Barbara A. Oudekerk, a research associate at the University of Virginia.